Monday, June 05, 2006

"We were told to do bad things"

Courtsey TOI october 14th, 2005 JALANDHAR:"You call it ragging but it is humiliation and should be banned. It is, but everyday students are ragged in the college. They are made naked and ordered to do bad things. This all has brought me to this point. I can't tell it even to my parents. It is not justified but I can't bear it any more." Amit Kumar, reg. no. 234, industrial engineering, room no. 312, Hostel I, NIT, Jalandhar. This suicide note, left by Amit from Bareilly, UP, says it all. It was recovered by Government Railway Police staff from a cupboard in his hostel room. A first year student of the NIT here, Amit had jumped before a train on Tuesday night. The note gives the names of 10 of Amit's seniors who ragged him, their branches and home states. "Sir" follows every name, exhibiting the lasting terror of the seniors. Amit's father Triwani Sahai had alleged on Wednesday that his son had told him about the ragging and took this extreme step as he could not take the torture. The GRP, which had registered a case, have now added Section 306, abetment to suicide, against one Rahul, his associates and the college management. The distraught father told the police that Amit called him up at 2.58 pm that fateful day and told him that he was being tormented. He had also said that the ragging would be over by Sunday after the freshers party. Sahai left for Bareilly with the mortal remains of his son Wednesday midnight after getting his statement recorded. SSP railway police Tulsi Ram told TNN that the note would be sent to a handwriting expert for confirmation and to know when it was written. Inspector Lakha Singh, SHO of the GRP police station and case investigation officer, visited hostel no. 1 on Thursday and questioned the boys. Many students, including Amit's roommates Yogesh and Anuj, had left the hostel, panic and anguish was clearly visible among others.